There are barely any vegan options at Smashburger. In fact, up until June 2022, they almost seemed to be going out of their way to not be vegan-friendly.
For instance, they have a whole line of Black Bean burgers, but the Black Bean patty contains milk and egg. And let’s not forget to mention that all of their buns contain an animal ingredient of some sort. We share more in the FAQ. They also had offered non-dairy milkshakes that are no longer on the menu.
They do have fries, but Smashburger deep fries everything in Beef Tallow, aka a cow’s adipose tissue. Everything. The fries, the Brussel sprouts, tots and sweet potato fries are all fried in the same beef fat oil.
Out of all the locations we have on VeggL, Smashburger is competing for the least vegan-friendly chain restaurant.
Smashburger Vegan Options
Salad
- Side Salad – If you’re able to order the Side Salad without cheese then this is the only available vegan food option we can find.
Burger
We are aware of how annoying this is but if you are interested in a raw lettuce wrap of sorts, we suggest “Crafting Your Own Burger” out of veggies, avocado a sauce then choosing a lettuce wrap as your bun.
- Fresh Jalapenos
- Smashed Avocado
- Lettuce
- Pickles
- Red Onion
- Tomato
The other veggie options I listed below in the FAQ as to why they are not included.
Sauces
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- BBQ
* As with any restaurant that is not 100% vegan or does not offer a designated cooking space for their vegan options, cross-contamination can occur and fryers/grills may be shared with animal products. You can choose what your level of comfort is with these potential issues.
Smashburger Vegan FAQ
Is Smashburger’s Vegetarian Black Bean Burger Vegan?
No! Not only does Smashburger’s vegetarian black bean patty contain dairy and egg, every bun is NOT vegan either.
Does Smashburger Offer A Vegan Bun?
If you count lettuce as a bun then yes. If not, no.
The Classic bun and Spicy Chipotle bun contain dairy and L-Cysteine Hydrochloride. The Udi’s gluten-free bun contains dairy and egg.
Are Smashburger Fries Vegan?
No! Smashburger fries all of their fried menu items in beef tallow, aka beef fat. This means all of their fried items (fries, sweet potato fries, tots and brussels sprouts) aren’t even vegetarian friendly.
Are Smashburger Brussels Sprouts Vegan?
No. Smashburger fries all of their fried menu items in beef tallow, which includes brussels sprouts. This means all of their fried items (fries, sweet potato fries, tots and brussels sprouts) aren’t even vegetarian friendly.
Does Smashburger Offer Vegan Milkshakes?
No. Smashburger began offering dairy-free milkshakes that would be considered “accidentally vegan” in June 2022. They were still in the menu in 2023 but have since left the menu.
Is Smashburger’s Smash Sauce Vegan?
No. Smashburger’s smash sauce contains egg.
Does Smashburger Offer A Vegan Sauce?
Yes. Smashburger has 3 sauces that would be considered “accidentally vegan.” Ketchup, Mustard & BBQ sauces.
Are Smashburger’s Grilled Onions Vegan?
Oddly no. And not for the reason I would have suspected, a shared grill. The reason why is that Smashburger’s Grilled onions contain pasteurized cream. aka dairy.
Are Smashburger’s Haystack Onions Vegan?
No. Smashburger’s haystack onions contain dairy and egg… and are fried in beef fat.
Are Smashburger’s Sauteed Crimini Mushrooms Vegan?
No. Like their grilled onions, Smashburger’s sauteed crimini mushrooms contain pasteurized cream (aka dairy) for some reason.
Were Smashburger’s Jack & Annie Plant-Based Jack Fruit Burger Vegan?
No. In January 2023, Smashburger began testing a plant-based burger in Colorado, New York and New Jersey, using Jack & Annie’s jack-fruit product. The ingredient list for the burger itself is vegan; however, they do NOT offer any vegan buns AND they cook on a buttered grill.
This makes it vegetarian; NOT vegan-friendly. Smashburger has also said they have no plans to have another cooking option that is a) not in butter and b) not cross-contaminated with animal menu items.
More Links and Info:
- Want to see Smashburger’s full menu? Head over to the Smashburger’s Menu Page.
- Information pulled directly from Smashburger’s Allergen Tool
- Not seeing exactly what you wanted? We also have vegan guides in the United States for other burger spots like McDonald’s and Bareburger
as well as over 230 other popular chain restaurants on our Vegan Guides at Restaurants Main Page. - Disclaimer: We do everything possible at VeggL to make sure all our Vegan Guides are as up to date as possible, but sometimes menus and menu items can change. VeggL is not responsible for incorrect or outdated information. Always check with your location and server to confirm items are vegan when ordering. If you notice something that needs to be corrected – please let us know!
